BajaNomad - HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE IN BAJA?

HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE IN BAJA?

rob - 1-3-2010 at 12:20 PM

Yesterday from the development hills above the ranch (150ft according to the topo), I could see Isla Santa Margarita in Bahia Magdalena in the clear winter air.

I checked on Google Earth, and the exact distance between my position on the hill and the tip of the island mountain is 63 miles . .. that seems awfully far, yet the island mountain was clearly visible.

I Googled "how far can you see" and got all sorts of answers, the main one being on the ground the horizon is 3 miles away. The formula (WikiAnswers) is

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_far_from_the_shore_can_you_see...

"From basic geometry, you get that the distance to the horizon is D=sqrt(2Rh) where D = distance to horizon R = radius of earth h = height of observer, which would be the height of your eyes . . .. "

So at a height of 150 ft, one can presumably see
D=sqrt(2*20e6*150) = 14.67 miles . . . .

As a mathematician, I am a fair guitar player - can some guru tell me where I am going wrong?

To confuse totally, I remember clearly being able to see Malarrimo Beach from the top of the road to San Fransisco de la Sierra - and that was about 77 miles according to Baja Almanac.

I need a Ballena . ..

DENNIS - 1-3-2010 at 12:22 PM

After I leave Sharky's, I can see Russia from my front yard.

fishbuck - 1-3-2010 at 12:30 PM

My first flying trip down I could see about 200 miles.
I was using the islands for navigation. It still took me over an hour to get to each one.
That was a very clear day!

bajaguy - 1-3-2010 at 12:33 PM

I can see as far as the next Pacifico.........

arrowhead - 1-3-2010 at 12:42 PM

You have the run the computation from both ends. Google Earth says the highest elevation on that island is about 1,500 ft. Running the formula, you should be able to see about 47 miles from the peak. To that, add the 15 miles you can see from your elevation, and the total is about 62 miles.

i can see for miles and miles.....

woody with a view - 1-3-2010 at 12:44 PM

100_2719.jpg - 44kB

Bob H - 1-3-2010 at 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rob

I need a Ballena . ..

Hahahhaa

There's your answer!
Bob H

bajalou - 1-3-2010 at 01:12 PM

A old saying was that a man sitting on a horse could see about 7 miles.

On a real clear morning at a elevation of about 470 feet, and about 5 miles West of the western shore of the Sea of Cortez, I can see the bluffs in the area of El Golfo on the ease side of the sea. Also the Altar mountains which are farther inland. El Golfo is a little over 50 miles and the mountains are around a hundred miles.

Diver - 1-3-2010 at 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
After I leave Sharky's, I can see Russia from my front yard.

Dennis and Sarah,
Sitting in a bar,
Wondering if they can really,
See that far.
.

fishbuck - 1-3-2010 at 01:38 PM

When I hooked a yellowtail this trip I looked in the water and he looked small. But I could tell by how hard he pulled he was grande.
I guess I could see about 100+ feet down. I watched him fight the whole way up.
Amazing!

I can see your house from here ..mas o minos...

Pompano - 1-3-2010 at 02:20 PM

On a flat day like this, I'll usually skip a a stone 8,800 times before it hits the oppostite shore.

[Edited on 1-4-2010 by Pompano]

Mexicorn - 1-3-2010 at 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
After I leave Sharky's, I can see Russia from my front yard.

When I leave Anthony's I can see Paris down the street.

When I'm in Paris- I'm not in France I can see that the girls there are completely againts wearing underpants!

fdt - 1-3-2010 at 03:10 PM

I particularly like to stop on the hills past El Rosario going south to Cataviña and just "See forever".

motoged - 1-3-2010 at 03:35 PM

Woody,
Yep....Miles and Miles....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7As8L-0bwsM&feature=PlayList&p=ECDC818458E7C848&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13

BajaWarrior - 1-3-2010 at 04:01 PM

On any clear morning I can see at least one to three islands that are part of the Islas de Encantada chain that are between Puerocitis and Gonzaga Bay. We are 25 miles north of Puertocitis so I am seeing islands that are at least 45 to 55 miles south and my home is at sea level.

By the way...Today in San Diego (Point Loma to be exact) there is a clear view of San Clemente Island and Catalina Island.

rob - 1-3-2010 at 05:06 PM

Arrowhead - you nailed it. I forgot the height of the island . . . it took me only 3 Ballenas to get the correct answer.

LancairDriver - 1-3-2010 at 06:18 PM

Watch this video and take a ride in a U2 at 70,000 ft and run the numbers on the distance you can see from there. I think Baja is down there somewhere. Pretty awesome.

http://propilotnews.com/2009/07/high-flight-really-high-flig...

Hook - 1-3-2010 at 07:34 PM

I thought I read once that the furthest one can possible see on the surface of the earth is about 90+ miles, assuming that both objects are relatively the same elevation.

After that, the curvature of the earth makes objects disappear below the horizon.

But, as some have noted here, the curvature of a woman or a beer bottle can alter physical law.

BajaWarrior - 1-3-2010 at 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
I thought I read once that the furthest one can possible see on the surface of the earth is about 90+ miles, assuming that both objects are relatively the same elevation.

After that, the curvature of the earth makes objects disappear below the horizon.

But, as some have noted here, the curvature of a woman or a beer bottle can alter physical law.

Hook, wouldn't the true line of sight be at sea level which is 17 miles?

From Point Loma today we clearly saw San Clemente Island and that is 60 miles from where we stood. Ok, maybe 90 would be the limit but our elevation was pretty high, seems I could have seen further if there was an object to look at and if also it was clear enough.

When we drove to sea level the top of the island was still visible but only because it is high in elevation.

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-3-2010 at 08:08 PM

I had to hire a math tutor for college but with one of these I figure I could see a pretty fer piece!

Barry A. - 1-3-2010 at 08:42 PM

One fall day just leaving Sacramento and driving north I could plainly see Mt. Shasta all covered in snow. That was about 210 miles. It was a rare sight indeed.

Barry

(ooooops, not in Baja------sorry)

[Edited on 1-4-2010 by Barry A.]

elgatoloco - 1-3-2010 at 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior

By the way...Today in San Diego (Point Loma to be exact) there is a clear view of San Clemente Island and Catalina Island.

Rode my bicycle out there today and the view of the islands was nice!

When we climbed up the observatory near Picacho we could see both sides of Baja. San Martin Island on the west and the Sea of Cortez to the east and beyond to a mountain that we were told was on the mainland of Mexico. It was a very clear day and we were high. :saint:

astrobaja - 1-4-2010 at 10:18 AM

Hmmm lets see, on a dark moonless night I can see 2.5 million light years to the Andromeda galaxy

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=3640

Thats with the naked eye, but with my big telescope (30") I can see 8 billion light years to the double quasar in the big dipper!

http://astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/dblqso.ht...

But if you're talking terrestrial :>

from the SPM 2.12 meter dome at the observatory you can see both the Pacific and Gulf of Cal!

fishbuck - 1-4-2010 at 10:30 AM

Depends on if I am in the front row near the stage. Then I can see everything.

astrobaja - 1-4-2010 at 10:42 AM

Fishbuck: I prefer the private viewing rooms :>

fishbuck - 1-4-2010 at 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by astrobaja
Fishbuck: I prefer the private viewing rooms :>

bajabass - 1-5-2010 at 09:38 AM

From my lots in La Mision, I can see Coronado to the north, and Todos Santos to the south. From my friends bar,Tequila's, I can see Paris and Anthony's!! :saint:

David K - 1-5-2010 at 09:46 AM

It was very clear yesterday morning at Bahia Santa Maria and you could easily see the mountians (Cerro Prieto) south of Puertecitos... about 40 miles away, from sea level.

El Camote - 1-5-2010 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco

When we climbed up the observatory near Picacho we could see both sides of Baja. San Martin Island on the west and the Sea of Cortez to the east and beyond to a mountain that we were told was on the mainland of Mexico. It was a very clear day and we were high. :saint:

Matt, you can also see the largest observatory dome from highway 5 to or from San Felipe. It needs to be in the morning when the light is shining on it. Also, only around km 163 + or -. You follow the ridge line north of the Picacho del Diablo past the saddle.

David K - 1-5-2010 at 10:25 AM

At the end of the road at the observatory, San Pedro Martir... (photo from many years ago)

[Edited on 1-5-2010 by David K]